An inspirational, yet practical, blog written by Deborah Federico that provides career advice for college students and others. Following this blog will enable you to gain a competitive advantage in the job market and achieve your career goals.

Career Resources

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Job Search Strong!

Before, during and after this year’s Boston Marathon, we all
were exposed to countless images and poignant stories of heroism, courage and determination
exhibited by victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Collectively, we
marveled at how they were able to overcome their wounds, both emotional and
physical, and rebound this year by participating in the event in some form or another
and how they have chosen to focus on the positive outcomes that emerged from
such a terrible act of violence. They persevered by keeping their eye on the
prize, as opposed to letting an unfortunate event deter them from reaching
their goals and pursuing their dreams.

The same is true in your job search. Having coached numerous
college seniors in their job search over the last several years, I can attest
to the fact that perseverance is the key ingredient to landing a job. I think
that sometimes students give up too quickly in pursuing their career goals when,
if only they had just stuck it out a bit longer, their dream job would have
been just around the bend.

You can rest assured that you will experience your own
version of “Heartbreak Hill” at some point during your job search (or several
times!). It may be because you’ve sent out 20 resumes and haven’t gotten one
response. Or you’ve been on 10 interviews and haven’t received any offers. This
can be discouraging, for sure. But you need to stay in the race and send out
that 21st, and 22nd and 23rd resume. Go on
that 11th interview. The next one could be the one, so it’s critical that you don’t give up.

I’ve worked with many seniors who came into my office
feeling really down about the job search only to contact me days or weeks later
to share their joyous news that they had landed a job. The same will happen to
you if you stay in the race all the way to the finish line!

Read my eight tips below to ensure your job search success:

1. Get a CoachIt’s no secret that the job search can be grueling and frustrating at
times so make sure to enlist the support of a career counselor at your college.
They will not only supply you with awesome career tips and advice but will also
keep you motivated all the way throughout your job search. Remember too that
most colleges continue to provide career services after you’ve graduated and as
an alum.

2. Be RealisticKeep in mind that the job search can take an average of three to six
months. It’s also a numbers game. The more jobs you apply to, the better your
chances are of getting interviews and landing a job. Don’t stop after you apply
for a certain number of positions and then sit back and wait for the phone to
ring. Keep on applying.

It’s pretty easy to sit at your laptop and click 'send' as
you apply for as many positions as possible that you find online. Since
it's so easy to do, think about just how many other recent college grads are
doing the exact same thing. Scary, huh? Well, there's a solution. Set yourself apart from the
competition and be proactive in your job search by setting up informational
interviews with your school’s alumni or attending professional networking
events.

5. Create
Your DestinyIf you have extra time, do an internship or
volunteer at your dream company. This is a great idea for several reasons.
It gets you up and out of the house, allows you to hone your professional
skills, keeps you current in your field AND could possibly lead to a full-time
offer if you "wow" them with your amazing abilities. If your
dream company doesn't have any posted internships, create an internship
proposal for them.6. Have an Open Mind
Explore every opportunity that
comes your way because you just never know. What initially may not have seemed
like an ideal situation could turn out to be a wonderful opportunity for you to
gain professional experience, develop your skills and build your resume. Look
beyond the big brand companies – there are wonderful professional opportunities
with companies you’ve never heard of. Remember too that the average person will have 15-20
jobs in his or her lifetime so your first job won’t be your only job.7. Boost Your ConfidenceThink about the things that will boost your
confidence, and then do them. It might be connecting with your favorite
mentors who can motivate and encourage you. Or it might be challenging yourself
at the gym to achieve new workout goals. Do things that you excel at to increase your
sense of confidence.

8. Set
Goals and Reward YourselfEstablish daily and weekly goals for yourself
that move you forward in your job search and put them on your calendar. By
setting and meeting goals, you'll not only feel good about yourself but you
won't feel so guilty when you do decide to go to the beach...afteryou've completed your job search
activities. Find other ways to reward yourself after you accomplish each of
your goals.

1 comment:

Anonymous
said...

I would add one more recommendation - clean your social networks profile. Most recruiters and employers review social media activities of candidates and often reject such that include inappropriate language or reference of alcohol/sex/violence (text or images).Here's a recent article from the Financial Times: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/8b9cc970-c57a-11e3-97e4-00144feabdc0.html

About Me

Motivational and enthusiastic career coach who is dedicated to helping my students and clients achieve their career and life goals. Passionate about life and all things spiritual. Eternal optimist who believes you can do anything if you put your mind to it.